Selahn.
/ˈsiːlə/ A Hebrew word, occurring frequently at the end of a verse in the Psalter and thrice in Hab. iii, by the Septuagint rendered διάψαλμα; supposed to be a musical or liturgical direction of some kind, perhaps indicating pause or rest. Hence in various allusive uses (see quots.).
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Selah1530
1530 G. Joye tr. M. Bucer Psalter of Dauid iii. A 5 This worde Selah signifyeth ye sentence before to be pond'red with a depe affecte, longe to be rested upon and the voyce there to be exalted.
1624 S. Ward Peace-offering 50 Record, not all and euery fauour, which is impossible, but the most memorable and thankworthy; putting a special Selah of thankes vpon them.
1826 E. B. Barrett Ess. on Mind ii. 629 Then comes the Selah! and the voice is hush'd.
1872 O. W. Holmes Poet at Breakfast-table iv But you need not think I am going to tell you every time his popgun goes off, making a Selah of him whenever I want to change the subject.
1906 J. London Let. 1 Dec. (1966) 229 I want an answer... I want it to the point... Selah.
1924 E. E. Cummings Let. 13 May (1969) 107 The Independants found me not incapable of a 40′ × 50′ ‘abstract’ canvas which..hung very well (by itself)—this lidel effut cost me 9 days work and was dry on time, selah-sounds.
1947 W. Stevens in Q. Rev. Lit. 3 110 The dove in the belly builds his nest and coos, Selah, tempestuous bird.
1975 New Yorker 26 May 33/3 Then I can go back to doing what every really dedicated writer wants to do. Nothing. Selah, Phil.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
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